Facing the Operative Word by AndromedaMarine

Author's Note: I admire and respect Stephen Hawking's work in the areas of astrophysics and quantum mechanics – I am simply relating Rodney's thoughts on the matter.

A Favor, Please

Elizabeth woke at nine in the morning. One hand clutched the tape recorder and the other was woven into one of John's shirts. She stretched, not yet remembering what had happened the previous night. She rolled over and expected to roll into her lover but instead she fell off the bed and onto the floor. "What the hell?" she said through her teeth. "John?" She stood. She saw. And she remembered. Her heart found its way into her throat and new tears formed.

As the woman dressed she played the song on the recorder. The words flowed through her, perhaps strengthening her, and she hummed along to the melody of John's voice.

The door swished open and when Elizabeth stepped out to go to the infirmary she ran right into Evan Lorne. "Evan?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

Lorne scratched his head. "I work here."

Pausing for a moment and realizing what she'd said, she rephrased, "Why are you outside my quarters?" She tried to give him a smile but failed. Evan understood.

"You weren't in your office this morning and I figured you were sleeping off your stay in the infirmary last night. I was just coming to check on you." The major gave her a supportive smile, and offered an arm. "You look hungry."

Elizabeth nodded. "I am," she admitted. "But I was going to the infirmary, not the commissary."

"Not very smart," Evan mused, trying to lift the mood of his superior. "Would you like some company?"

"Thank you for your concern, Evan, but I'd rather be alone right now. I'm still trying to accept what's happened to John." She tried a sad smile. She started to walk away, but the major held on to her arm.

He pulled her into a comforting, supportive hug. "I'm here if you need to talk about anything. I'm scared for Colonel Sheppard too. I'm more understanding than some people might think." He released the woman and his eyes locked with hers. "Just eat something before you visit him."

Elizabeth silently agreed with Evan's last sentence and left to the commissary. She found Rodney at one of the tables, digging into a rather large dish of salad (which was highly unusual) and immersed in a thick book the leader didn't catch the title of. She sat across from him and the scientist didn't look up. "Rodney?"

The head of science peered over the top of his book which was titled A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking. "Hello, Elizabeth. You know, this book is completely off. Considering what we've learned about wormhole physics and hyperspace and hyperdrives and the origin of Earth over the past fifteen years this is complete crap." He lowered the book and gave all his attention to the woman. "I've already seen him today. He looks a bit peaky – but that's probably just the sedative working."

"Thank you. I'm going to see him in a few minutes. I wanted to ask you a favor."

Rodney looked up from his plate. "Hm?"

"A favor," she repeated.

"Okay. What would you like?"

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. "John and I have been waltzing around the fact that our lives are in constant danger and every time he goes through the Stargate I worry. He hasn't died, yet, and I thank God for that. But the operative word is 'yet.' Promise me you'll be more careful now that John might not wake?"

Rodney reached across the table and took Elizabeth's hand. "We have been careful. But every now and then we get into a fix that won't let us come out unscathed. What happened to John wasn't a slip-up in carefulness – he was fighting for all our lives. I wish and I hope he'll walk away with his."

Elizabeth took Rodney's words and left for the infirmary.